It’s not popular today to speak in terms of “good and evil”. Having grown up in a religious setting that tended to breed condemnation rather than confidence in the work of Christ in our hearts, I can understand it.

Nevertheless, we can’t ignore either word. There is obviously both good and evil in the world. Everywhere we look there is are hard things. Poverty, sexual slavery, broken families, crime, bigotry, injustice, wars, and so on. On the other hand, we see good in those work to make a difference or rise above their own negative circumstances or a raw hand that was dealt them.

What determines whether someone is good or evil? Luke 6:43-45 makes it clear that it is the kind of fruit one bears. It makes it clear the fruit we see comes from the condition of one’s heart.

Christ’s sacrificed life made it possible to live in goodness. Salvation is for body, soul, and spirit. Reunited or back in agreement with God, it is now up to us to plant and tend to the vineyard of our hearts, that we might produce GOOD FRUIT.

Andy Andrews, in his book The Traveler’s Gift, talks about one of the seven principles of success–I have a decided heart. If we choose to follow Christ, then we must also decide to become like Him.

Luke 6:40 says “everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher.” A decided heart is one that refuses to let things unlike Christ remain in their heart.

One can’t have bitterness and say they are following Christ. Nor can we dwell in unforgiveness, a vengeful spirit, self-centeredness, pride, apathy, rebellion, greed, etc. Those attitudes will choke out the good fruit and fill our hearts with unhealthy habits and desires.

We also can’t live in the land of unbelief, a place that denies what God says about us or the priniciples and promises of God. It is impossible to please God without faith! Not just faith in his redemption, but walking it out by being who He has called us to be and producing good fruit.

Luke 6:45 says”For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.” Faith is a matter of confession and profession. What you say matched by what you do indicates the faith you have. It is not enough to say “Lord, Lord”. We must have faith that is rooted deep in our hearts vineyard.

That kind of faith, fills our heart with the qualities of God. Love, forgiveness, peace, long-suffering, goodness, meekness, temperance. It is other focused. It is about blessing, not cursing. It is about us rising up to our position in Christ’s kingdom and living from a decided heart!

It is work because faith without works is dead. It’s not about performance for the sake of performance but it is about truly accepting the work of Christ and letting Him transform our hearts into a vineyard…the planting of the Lord. It takes self-examination under the light of the Holy Spirit. It takes a decision followed by committment, that we will continue to add the character of God to our lives, letting go of the things that hold us back or produce rotten fruit.

I am challenged today to inspect my fruit and pull out by God’s grace the things that produce bad fruit. I am determined to put into my heart the seed that will create a bountiful harvest.

How about you? What do you need to pull out or put into your heart to produce greater fruit?